Mining giant Rio Tinto says it has begun trialling battery swap technology for electric haul trucks at the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia.
The trial, to be run in collaboration with China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) Qiyuan, is Rio Tinto’s first use of battery swap electric haul trucks in surface mining operations.
A fleet of eight 91-tonne battery electric haul trucks, made by Tonly Heavy Industries (Tonly) have been brought to the mine, along with 13 batteries, each coming in at 800 kilowatt-hours (kWh). There is also a battery swapping station, static charger, and supporting infrastructure have also been installed.
The eight trucks will be used for tailings dam construction and topsoil transportation tasks, providing Rio Tinto with hands-on experience for operating and maintaining a complete battery electric truck and battery swap charging station.
“The launch of this trial with SPIC Qiyuan is an important milestone, harnessing China’s widely used and leading battery swap technology in a partnership that supports Rio Tinto’s drive to accelerate low-carbon innovation,” said Ben Woffenden, Rio Tinto general manager for global equipment and diesel transition.
“By working with partners such as SPIC Qiyuan and Tonly, Rio Tinto is rapidly identifying and adopting cost-effective, proven innovations that can support operational excellence and advance decarbonisation goals.”
The trial will operate through to the end of 2026, helping Rio Tinto to identify other opportunities to adopt battery swap technology and battery electric haul trucks across its global operations.
Currently, Rio Tinto boasts a global fleet of 700 haul trucks.
Guo Peng, general manager of Qiyuan Green Power, said in a statement battery swap technology had significant potential in helping global mining customers reduce emissions and enhance operational efficiency. “We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Rio Tinto to jointly explore broader prospects for the mining industry’s low-carbon transition,” he said.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.